The judge has blocked enforcement of part of a controversial law
passed in July despite the efforts of State Sen. Wendy Davis (D)
and her epic 13-hour
filibuster.

The bill was
revived weeks after Davis' filibuster and approved by the Texas
Senate.

District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote that two of the
new regulations for clinics would unreasonably restrict
access to abortion clinics — including a provision requiring
abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local
hospital.

The controversial law also banned abortion after 20 weeks, but
Planned Parenthood and other groups only sought to strike down
the provisions that limited doctors' ability to use abortion
drugs and the admitting-privileges provision,
according to The Dallas Morning News.

The admitting-privileges provision would have forced the closure
of dozens of abortion clinics, and abortion advocacy groups
argued that the medical abortions provision would have deprived
women of recent advances in medical science,
the AP reports.

Judge Yeakel
found that both the admitting-privileges provision and the
so-called medication-abortion provision were unconstitutional. In
a 26-page ruling, the judge ruled that medication abortion can be
a "safe and medically sound" option for certain situations.

With regard to the admitting-privileges, the judge also said he
had "grave reservations" about leaving a "hodge podge of diverse
medical committees and boards to determine, based solely on
admitting privileges, which physicians may perform abortions."

From Judge Yeakel's memo on the ruling:

Today there is no issue that divides the people of this country
more than abortion. It is the most divisive issue to face this
country since slavery. When compared with the intensity, emotion,
and depth of feeling expressed with regard to abortion, the
recent arguments on affordable healthcare, increasing the debt
ceiling, and closing the government retreat to near oblivion.
... Legislatures and courts will continue to be confounded
by the issue for the foreseeable future. No ruling of this court
will sway the opinion regarding abortion held by anyone.